Instagram introduces a new feature to protect teenagers from suicide.

Instagram introduces a new feature to protect teenagers from suicide.

 Instagram said Thursday it will begin alerting parents if their children repeatedly search for terms clearly related to suicide or self-harm. The alerts will only be sent to parents enrolled in Instagram's parental control program. 

Instagram says it already blocks this type of content from appearing in teens' search results and directs people to helplines instead. This announcement comes as Meta faces two lawsuits concerning harm to children. 

A trial currently underway in Los Angeles is examining whether Meta's platforms intentionally expose minors to addiction and abuse. Another trial in New Mexico is seeking to determine whether Meta failed to protect children from sexual exploitation on its platforms.